Editorial: Prisoner ‘rights’ often go too far

Few things fill taxpayers with more wrath than hearing about governments paying cash settlements to inmates for what are pretty minor breaches of their rights.

The latest case that will no doubt fill up Internet comments sections is the news that the B.C. Justice Ministry tried to offer North Fraser Pretrial Centre inmate Robert J. Anderson $6,000 to put an end to his complaint that he and other male inmates were forced to shower while being monitored by female guards while male guards never watch over female inmates when they shower.

It’s discrimination, Anderson is crying. While he might have some sort of a point, the average taxpayer doesn’t care. While no ones want prisoners abused, of course, the reality is that they are jail — the entire exercise of locking someone up is an infringement of a criminal’s rights, the rights the rest of us get to enjoy by not committing crimes.

Then there’s this case specifically. Men who end up in hospital or receive treatment from nurses and doctors often find themselves naked in front of women. They aren’t interested in the men except to do their professional jobs as medical people; female prison guards no doubt have the same attitude.

Prisoners have a lot of time on their hands to think up these kinds of complaints. Too bad it costs taxpayers money.

Editorials are unsigned opinion pieces that represent the views of The Province editorial board, a group of senior editors.

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